Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1887-01-07
COL. JOHN WESLEY BENNETT.

has been prosperous and has a competency.
COL. JOHN WESLEY BENNETT.
must tell your readers something about
another noteworthy Nermonter who is
somewhat identified with Brattleboro
refer to Col John w. Bennett, a son Of the
Rev. John G.. Bennett, who was n teacher
at Newbury and afterwards preached for
many years in and near Brattleboro, being
of the Methodist persuasion. John W. is
the oldest of large family. He was born
in 1887, and when quite young went TO live
with Judge jackson, who owned and ope-
rated a large farm in Cornish, n H., and
was also judge Of the district court. He
worked on the farm, in the sawmil, and at
anything else required of him In this way
he received training not TO be acquired in
the delicate and downy nursery or amid the
aesthetic surroundings Of the drawing rooms
of the wealthy in cities This kind of train
ing and education in youth in the primitive
and best schools-upon the farm, in the
saw-mill, among hills and waterfalls-indeed
fit one for future active, practical life even
in the professions, including that Of law;
for Col Bennett is a lawyer | do not
mean to be understood as saying that schools,
books or the tutor should be neglected, nor
were they in the case Of young Bennett
far from it but the tutelage Of schools and
schoolmastcrs makes students only, while
the sterner tutors named fit the man for ac-
tual contact with the world. While work
ing from six in the morning until six at
night, it was his custom to read and study
until nine when he retired In this way
he acquired fund Of information he could
not have gained in the schoolroom. and de
veloped the physical man as well. After
some years so spent, he attended the acad-
emies at Meriden, y. H.. West Brattleboro
and Newbury, Vt, and proved the equal in
scholarship Of any student, notwithstanding
any previous advantages Of schools others
might have had. He made his way without
material assistance from any source outside
himself, and has done 50 up to the present
day, and assisted his family besides. Later
he taught school, and incidentally continued
the work Of self-improvement. He was a
! young man Of excellent habits, industrious
and studiuus: he was substantial aud rela-
BILE in the beginning, and has maintained
that character to the present time.
When the war broke out, young Bennett
was among the first to offer his services, en-
| listing in the cavalry branch. and was unan-
mously elected first lieutenant Of Co. D. in
what was mustered as the LIST Vt. Cav The
regiment was ordered to Annapolis to drill.
and remained there several months. during
which time Gen. John p. Hatch, brigade
commander, appointed him on his staff ~
| brigade quartermaster, commissary and
aide-de-camp-an appointment which was
surprise 10 him. being unsolicited He
| proved an efficient officer in that capacity,
and made clean balance sheet when he
rendered his account before leaving to Join
| Gen. Mcclellan in the field Immediately
after arriving there Gen Hutch was order
ed to the Shenandoah valley f. Join Gen.
| Banks, and his command participated in
| that disastrous retreat down the valley,
/ Lieutenant Bennett continuing to serve on
| Gen. Hatchs staff until that officer was
succeeded by Gen Buford when he contin
ued 10 serve on the staff Of the latter He
was soon promoted u the rank of captain
and later to that of major, when, at his own
request, he rejoined his regiment. marched
| to Gettysburg, and participated in fifteen
| battles i'll sixteen days in that memorable
| contest. in kilpatrick's division. Later he
was in the battle Of the Wilderness. where
| he was wounded, and still later in the Shen-
andoah valley with Sheridan, where he
| showed bravery, daring and strategy IN ex-
ecuting whatever he was commissioned to
do. He had been promoted to lieutenant
/ colonel, and was in command of his reli-
mcnt, when, with 800 men, he made the
/ brilliant advance cavalry charge at Cedar
| Creek. capturing - rebel artillery pieces
the largest capture at one charge, by that
/ number Of men, of which history gives any
account He received from his superiors
many Of the honors and much Of the credit
attached to the decisive blow in that final
engagement which permanently checked
| the rebel movements and overthrow their
cause in that famous valley. 1t was thought
| by his friends that his brilliant action and
decided success there entitled him To brig
alier's commission. In the latter part Of
! 1864 he returned TO Vermont and had com
mand of the Canadian frontier after the
rebel raid, with headquarters at 81. Albans
/ Later he was mustered out with a record
that adds lustre to the annals of Vermont
| in the war Of the rebellion
Col Bennett returned 20 Brattleboro and
! continued his law studies with Field x Ty-
Ter After he had been examined and pass
| ed, he attended the Albany law school. from
which he graduated in 1867. He came west
the same fall, looked over the field in the
country about Chicago, and eventually set
| tied here in practice, remaining ever since
| One will ut once infer, from what ! have
stated as to his reading and study, that he
! is thorough lawyer; which is the fact
/ He is so accurate and investigates SO closely
and carefully, getting the law and the facts,
that his presentation of case is essentially
its argument. He is almost universally suc-
cessfu in the end even though he carries
his case to the highest and last courts of re-
sort. He is "A man of the strictest integT-
| ty, fully responsible a man, a lawyer and
| financially. He has been put forward by
his friends for Congress and other positions,
] bhA lltltiH W AtNhlt iAlllHtll " ms huNl-
ness, which requires all his time hence he
has never held positions that interfered with
his work. He is a positive Republican, and
is active in important campaigns. He has
acquired Il comfortable fortune.
In 1870 Col Bennett married Harriet f.
| Frink, daughter of the late John Frink, the
wealthy stage proprietor of the west, who
left large landed estate which the colonel
administers. They have four children, and
live in "A pleasant and fine residence in the
suburban town of Austin, where he is one
of the most prominent and public-sprited
citizens. During the past year he has built
five houses, one of which he occupies, rent
ing four. He is follower and devotee of
NiInrod, and if he has any weakness it is
pride in that rifle of his and in his skill in
using it in deer hunting. He goes to the
Wisconsin woods every fall for recreation,
and when he levels his trusty rifle at deer
it means venison sure. w,P.
Mrs. Secretary whitney Ina Washington
Social Life.
Washington despatch 10 the Cincinnati Enquirer